Valve tappet silencer



March 16, 1954 J w -r 2,672,134

VALVE TAPPET SILENCER Filed Sept. 16, 1952 1 N VENTOR WQWZ- Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE TAPPET SILENCER Jack W. Hunt, Trenton, Tenn. Application September 16, 1952, Serial No. 309,893

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to a valve tappet silencer and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a device which is adapted to be attached to the upper end of a conventional valve stem in the valve-in-head type of engine. The device consists of a support member having means for attachment to the upper end of the valve stem and a spring which is affixed at one of its ends to one end of the support member. The device is such that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the conventional rocker arm one end of which bears against the device but the use of the device is such that it eliminates the conventional tapping noises which normally emanate from valves of this type which are not equipped with the present invention.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth having means for eliminating conventional tappet valve noise.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel spring forming a part of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a valve and rocker arm which has an embodiment of the invention attached thereto,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device forming the present invention,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, of the device shown in Figure 2 as applied to a valve stem beneath a rocker arm.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the spring which forms a part of the invention in depressed condition, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein at I of an overhead valve engine body having a valve stem guide I l in which is vertically and slidably mounted a valve stem l2 having a valve l3 at its lower end and having a spring retainer member l4 aflixed to the upper portion thereof. A compression spring l of conventional character surrounds the guide H and bears against the upper end of the head I!) at one of its ends and against the underside of the retainer M at its other end.

There is also provided a shaft Is upon which is revolubly mounted a rocker arm I! which is actuated in conventional manner by a push rod I8 at one of its ends and provided at its other end with a curved contact face [9.

The device forming the present invention consists of a block 20 having an opening 2| for the reception therein of the upper end of the valve stem !2. The block 20 extends outwardly at one side thereof to form an outwardly diminishing tapering portion terminating in a relatively thin edge, as indicated at 22, and is provided with an upper face which is slightly convex.

A fiat spring 23 is of wedge-shaped cross sectional area as is clearly indicated, for example, in Figure 3 and the thinner edge thereof is aifixed as by welding to the upper face of the block 29 along the thinner edge of the block 29, as indi cated at 24.

In operation, it will be apparent that as the end contact face :9 of the rocker arm I! moves downwardly, it will act to depress the spring 23 against the upper face of the block 20. This action will be gradual, acting from left to right upon the convex surface of the block 20 as viewed, for example, in Figures 3 and 4, and will thus eliminate the usual tapping noise which results from such action where no provision is made to absorb the shock of such downward movement of the end face 19. It will also be apparent that the spring action of the spring 23 will in no way interfere with the action of the spring I5 in its normal functions.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising, in combination with a valve stem and a rocker arm for actuating said stem, the provision of means for absorbing shock and noise emanating from the contact between said arm and said stem, said means comprising a block adapted to be affixed to the upper end of said stem and having a slightly convexed upper face and a fiat spring welded to one edge of the upper face of said block and adapted to bear against the lower side of the adjacent portion of said rocker arm, said flat spring being wedge shape in longitudinal crosssectional area and the weld being at its thinner edge, said flat spring being bendable over the convex surface of the block.

JACK W. HUNT.

References Cited in the file 01' this patent UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 

